St. James’ Daniel has strong return in losing effort

St. James pitcher Davis Daniel throws for the South team in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015.(Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)Buy Photo

It was St. James pitcher Davis Daniel’s first game since April, but you couldn’t tell by the way he was throwing.

The N.C. State commit couldn’t pitch in the final series of the regular season or the playoffs because of an elbow injury, but looked as good as ever on the mound at the North-South All-Star Game at Riverwalk Stadium on Tuesday.

“It felt good. This is my first time doing any kind of high school competition since, and a lot of people haven’t seen me in a while. It felt good to get out there and throw,” Daniel said.

Despite Daniel’s strong performance for the South, the North won both games, 6-2 and 6-4.

Daniel started Game 1 and struck out three batters, allowed two hits, one earned run and had plenty of heat on the ball in two innings of action.

For the season, he had a 0.74 ERA and struck out 82 batters in 47 innings. But he missed time when it mattered most, and he’s using that as motivation for his senior season.

“It was heartbreaking. I couldn’t really do much other than hit. I had to sit back. I wish I could’ve been on the mound battling with my teammates,” Daniel said. “Unfortunately the team that beat us went on to win state. So that’s some extra motivation for next year.”

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South catcher Brady Johnson, Jr., loses the ball as North baserunner Graham Ashcraft slides safely into home in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

South All-Star Hunter Stokes throws to first as North baserunner Graham Ashcroft gets out of the way in the AHSAA All-Star baseball game at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

North All-Star Bayley Blanchard throws to first over South All-Star Hunter Avery in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

South catcher Jacob Evans throws a bunted ball to first as pitcher Matthew Lowery watches in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

North All-Stae Kolby Robinson throws out South All-Star Chris Manley (1) at first in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

North All-Star Koleman Powell tags out South baserunner Deacon Medders at second in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

South baserunner Grant Barber dives back safely ahead of the tag from North first baseman Graham Ashcraft in the AHSAA All-Star baseball game at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

Noth baserunner Chase Beggs, tries to get around South third baseman Cody Herring after he loses the ball in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

North baserunner Dylan Wiggins (13) slides safely into third as South third baseman Cody Herring looks on in game one of the AHSAA All-Star Sports Week at Riverwalk Stadium Montgomery, Ala. on Tuesday July 21, 2015. Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

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Daniel’s All-Star teammate Robert Adams from Trinity — who sat out for precautionary reasons while nursing a foot injury — didn’t hesitate to remind Daniel that the Wildcats ended the Trojans’ season.

“Just get ready for next year,” Daniel responded.

Mortimer Jordan outfielder Walker McCleney was named North MVP and Houston Academy’s Brady Johnson took the South honors. The North now holds a 20-11-1 series lead.

McCleney combined to go 4-for-5 with four runs scored, and Johnson went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Wetumpka shortstop Cody Herring went 1-for-1 with an RBI in Game 2, and also recorded a strikeout with no runs allowed in two innings on the mound. Herring said he’s using his All-Star experience to take his game to the next level.

“A lot of these kids have never seen me pitch, or seen me play, and I’m glad they got to see how I throw it,” Herring said. “It’s more motivation to get better. A lot of these guys are good, but I want to be better and set the bar higher. It’s going to be hard, but I can do it.”